Automatic milling machine



Oct. 14, `1941.

@UTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l YBY Oct.14, 1941. F. KocH AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiied Dec.-

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Oct. 14, 1941. F. KocH AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR @50506K Koch' .BY m ATTO NE? F. KocH 2,259,424AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TOR yOct. 14, 1941.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 AUTOMATIC MILLING MACHINE 'Frederick Koch,Sparta, N. J., assig'nor to Associated Patentees, Inc., Ampere,

ration of New Jersey N. J., a corpo- Application December 21, 1939,Serial No. 310,321

19 Claims. (Cl. 90-13) The invention here disclosed relates to millingmachines and is a continuation in part of Patent 2,202,210 of May 28,1940.

Special objects of the present invention are to provide an automaticmiller of the typey of said patent which may be readily set and adjustedfor different more or less` complicated machining operations; which maybe employed for many difficult unusual and complicated operations; whichwhile normally fully automatic may be arbitrarily controlled, as forstopping and starting purposes at any time and which in general will bethoroughly practical and eiiicient.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by novel featuresof construction, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafterspecied, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and broadly coveredinthe claims.

The drawings illustrate one of the commercial machines embodying theinvention, but it will be appreciated from the scope of the claims thatstructure may be modied and changed in various ways all within the trueintent of the invention.

Fig. l is a broken part sectional front View -of the upper portion ofthe machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of lower parts of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional detail showing particularly the double cammechanism ,foreperating the Worktable.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan View of the table movement controlling cammechanism.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan and part sectional view of portions of the drivemechanism, as on substantially the plane of line 5 5 of Figfl.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the special gearing forenabling arbitrary setting of the table operating cam as viewed from theright of the main shaft 52 in Fig.'5.

Fig. 7 is a broken vertical sectional View lof the cam means forimparting vertical movements to the spindle head, this view being takenon substantially the plane of line l-f'l` of Fig., 1.

Fig. 8 is a broken detail View of the throwout clutch and latchmechanism.

The machine illustrated embodies many of the features of the patentreferred to, including a hollow cabinet type of base Il), providing ahousing for the motorsand drive mechansm,a reciprocating wcrktable II,operated or controlled by cams specially designed to accomplish theexact table movements requisite for different operations and a cutterspindle I2, journalled in a head I3, vertically shiftable on a columnI4.

Also, as in the patent identified, movement of the table in onedirection is eiected by means of a weight I5, and flexible connectionIE, running over guide rolls I'I, I8, to a point of connection with thetable at I9. In Vthe present disclosure however, an extra or follow-upcam is provided to assure the full and complete table movement.

The table operating and controlling cams are shown at 20, 2|, Figs. 3and 4, pinned at 22, in fixed relation on the upper end of shaft 23, inposition to respectively engage the rolls 24, 25, on the divergent larms26, 21, of the cam lever 28, pivoted on vertical axis 29, and carryinggear segment 3B, in mesh with the rack 3|, on the underside of theworktable or carriage.

The provision of separate edge cams is particularly desirable, sinceeach can be designed to perform its particular function to bestadvantage and the combination of these with the gravity effectedmovement of the worktable is especially advantageous for climb millingand operations of that sort.

In Figs. 1 and2, a flat piece of work 32, is held for a climb millingcut in the work holder 33. It ywill be noted that the cutter I2, turnsdownward, instead of upward over the advancing work, tending to draw thework toward it and to assist in holding it in the clamp, instead oftending to pull it out of the clamp. Also that in this workl feedingmovement, the table is advanced Iby the weight, with such advancingmovement limited and controlled by the cam 20, which is cut to permitthe exact movement desired at any or all points in this cutting controlof the table. The cam 2I which cooperates with the follower 25, acts inthe same direction, that is of the table movement, as the weight I5, butmaybe so designed as to come into action only at or toward the end ofthe feed movement, thus to make sure that the table fully completes suchfeed movement even though permitted to advance to the cutter undergravity feed for the major portion of such movement.

Vertical movement of the cutter head is eff ected in the present machineby similar double cam mechanism. No weight however is required, such asused With the horizontal table feed, since the weight of the verticallymoving cutter head is suiiicient to maintain a desired relation betweenthe cam and follower in the lowering movement of the head.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the cutter head I3,

, guided in ways 34, is shown as having a rack 35,

, adapted to receive a hand crank 10.

Y tively accomplish the desired cutter head movements, are removablysecured in fixed relation on the shaft 45, journalled horizontally in apartition wall k46, in the hollow column I4. at the back of thepartition carries the worm gear 41, in mesh with a worm 48, on vtheangularly. related horizontal shaft 49, and the latter is` driventhrough bevel gears 9, froma4 vertical shaft 5l, at the back ofthemachine extending from the cabinet portion of the base up into thehollow column, back of the partition. f

Both sets of cams, those for horizontal reciprocation of the table andthose for vertical'mvement of the cutter head are maintained in properlytimed relation by being driven from the same power. source, in thisinstance, the so-calledmain shaft 52, Fig.5, which is operated from amotor in the cabinet through change speed gearingindicated at 53. Theshaft'52, is shown as extendingfrom front to rear and as carrying a worm54, in mesh with a worm gear 55, on the lower end of thetable cam shaft23, and as'carrying at the rear a spiral gear 66, in mesh with acorrespondinggear 51, on a shaft 5 8, which through bevel gearing 59, iscoupled in driving relation to vertical shaft 5l To enable the propercorrelation of the two sets of cams; and the proper setting of the camsY in respect to the table and the cutter head,- provision is made foruncoupling the worm drive shafts 52 `and 4,9, and for independentlyadjusting the same.

- Accordingly, 'the shaft 52., is split or sep,- erated et 6.0, ih twoSections with the forward. motor driven Section Carrying a sldhely.keyed movable clutch member 6|, and the rearward section 52a. carryingworm 54. provided vwith a Companion fixed clutch element 62 When thirlClutch `is open as in Eig- 5. the rearward Worm Carrying section 52a, ofthe main shaft may be turned Oneway or thek other by means of a handcrank 6,3, removably engaged over the end o f ,o short cross shaftl $4,carrying a spiral gear Q5, in mesh with soireleeer 56, or1 Shaft 52a-Similarly, the upright shaft is Split at 61, with the lower Sectioncarrying a Sliding keyed oloteh member 63, for engagement with ecompanion clutch element 69,'xed on the upper shaft VVsection and theworm Yshaft 49, hasan exposed end Thus when elotoh'tl. 69. is opened asby .means of a hand lever 1l, pivoted at 1,2, and connected with thesliding clutch element at 13, shaft v4.9, may be turned by crank 19, toset the cams 4|, 44;v in respect to the cutter head and also in relationto the worktable cams.

The cutter head is further independently vertically adjustablein theillustration, Fig. 1, by constructing said head as a unit adjustablewithl respect to the rack 35,' and providing a screw shaft 14, having a`bearing the head at 15, and screw-threaded engagement with the rack at18. Tol facilitate quick adjustment of ,this screw shaft, particularlywhenfth'e upper end Of the shaft is below the top idf `the column as inFig. 1,` an outwardly inclined adjusting shaft `'11',fis

showncorineclt'edat 'its lower end with the'screw This shaft, l

shaft by angle gearing 18, and having its upper end exposed to receive ahand crank 19.

To provide ready access to the cutter head operating cams at the frontand the cam driving gearing at the back, removable doors may be providedat the front and back of the hollow column, over these partssubstantially as indicated at 80,81, Fig. '7.

The clutch 61,52, on the main drive shaft, in addition to enabling thecam setting for the Work table, serves as in the patent rst identied, asa 'throw-out clutch for stopping operations of the machine jat the endof a predetermined cycle.

2.85# The opposite end of this spring is connected witha latch lever 86,pivoted at 81, and carrying a' latch nose 88, for holding engagementwith a lug'89,ipr.ojectd downward from one side of the clutch fork 82.This one spring thus serves both to yieldingly support the latch leverin cooperating relation with the lug of the clutch yoke and to shift'theyoke in the clutch opening direction when the latch lever istripped'from holding engagementwiththe lug.

VThe/latch'lever is 'automatically operated at the end of the cycle asin the patent application referred to 'by a projection or pin, such asindicated at 90, Von the worm gear 5.5., engaging the inclined orcamprojection 9|, adjustably mounted on the end of the latch lever.

l Hand 'control of theV clutch 6l, 62, is provided in the illustration,by a handle 92, on the outer end `of o. shaft 1.9.3, Figs. 5 and 8,connected by rook'arrn .9!! and .link 9.5., with the arm 8.6. oftheShaft 83, on whioh'the yoke is pvotally supported, Said Shaft having edownwardly extended arm 31,.;ior ,pushing the yoke laterally ih a clutchclosing direction and an angel-orly related arm @lt engaging .onopstanding portion .89, ofthe latch lever'for pushing the latterdownwardly in a clutch releasing direction.

It will be clear from Fig. 8, that downward motion of the controlhandle, rocking shaft 93, in counterclockwise direction will have theeiect through the arm 91, o f pushing the sliding clutch member 6-I,into vcoupled engagement with Afixed clutch member 62, and that in suchmovement, the lug 89, Vof the clutch yoke will ride up over andengagebehind the shoulder ,88, of the Ylatch lever, the letter yieldingthrough spring support 85, for such engagement ofperts.

To throw out the main clutch either for purposes of. 'setting thetablecarns or for stopping themachine at any time, the control handle islifted, Fig. 8, thus to rock the shaft 93, in clockvisedirelo'torr oodthis has the effect of ,depressihe .theoveretehdoe arm 91S. end thusthrough the Stud @Lto forge the .latch lever downward to-make it releasethe clutch yoke at 3.3, 89.. and permit the spring.8 5 to snap themovable clutch element out of engagement with the companion clutchelement.

If idesired, a stop or stops may be provided whichfc'a'n be set topredetermine the limit of movement of either r both the horizontallytravcling table or thevertically shiftable cutter head and whoh villthosllX the movement or movemente of 1 these parte .independently `of lpossible which 'might .arise from `vveevrlhs of What is claimed is: A

l. In a milling machine, thecombination of a carriage mounted for travelin opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said leverv at opposite-sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions.

2. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and indifferent positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage-in opposite directions, a power sourceand drive connections from said power source to said cam shaft`including a disconnecting clutch and means for arbitrarily setting saidcam shaft in different angular relations when said clutch isdisconnected.

3. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravelin opposite directions,a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions and means foroperating said cam shaft including a power shaft, a disconnectingclutch, worm and gear drive to said cam shaft and means for turning saidWorm and gear drive independently of said power shaft.

' 4. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever a't opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, said carriagebeing mounted for vertical movement and a horizontal cutter spindlemounted on said carriage.

1n a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted for travelin opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on. said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid com followers. said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, said carriagebeing mounted for vertical movement and a horizontal cutter spindlemounted on said carriage and means for effecting vertical adjustments ofsaid cutter spindle on said carriage independently of the verticalshifting movements of said carriage.

6. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different vpositions'longitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid camA followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriageV in opposite directions, said carriagebeing mounted for horizontal travel and a weight connected with saidcarriage for imparting motion to the same in one direction.

`'7. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever at opposite sidesofthe pivotal axis of said lever and in different vpositionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, a hollowcolumn supporting said carriage for vertical movement at one side of thesame, a supporting partition in said hollow column, said shaft beingjournalled in said partition with said cams at one side of saidpartition and drive means for said shaft at the opposite side of saidpartition.

8. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, a hollowcolumn supporting said carriage for vertical movement at one side of thesame, a supporting partition in said hollow column, said shaft beingjournalled in said partition with said cams at one side of saidpartition, drive means for said shaft at the opposite side of saidpartition and including a worm gear on the shaft, a worm in engagementwith said worm gear, power means for turning said worm and manuallyoperable means for turning said worm independently of said power means.o

9. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam ,followers on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft and separateedge cams on said shaft in line with and engaged on opposite sides bysaid cam followers, said edge cams de signed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, said leverhaving a gear segment, a rack engaged thereby and means adjustablyconnecting said rack with said carriage,

l0. In a milling machine, the combination of a carriage mounted fortravel in opposite directions, a pivotally mounted lever connected foroperating said carriage, cam followers `on said lever at opposite sidesof the pivotal axis of said lever and in different positionslongitudinally of said pivotal axis, a single cam shaft. andseparateedge cams on said shaft in line with andengaged on opposite sides bysaid earn followers, said Vedge cams designed respectively to controldesired movement of said carriage in opposite directions, a columnsupporting Vsaid carriage for vertical movement, said cam shaftberig.journalled onV said .column in horizontal position, a worm gear on saidcam shaft, a horizontally .disposed shaft, a Worin on said latter shaftin engagement with said .worm gear, means for effecting hand Vadjustmentof said worm shaft, a vertically extending shaft in driving connectionwithsaidiwormshaft and a disconnecting clutch. on `said verticalshafti1. In a milling machine, the combination of a horizontallyreciprocating worlctalcleand a vertically reciprocating cutter head andcommon drive connections to said horizontally reciprocating Worktaloleand vertically reciprocating cutter head, including disconnectingclutches for uncoupiing either the horizontally reciprocating worktableor the vertically reciprocating cutter head from said comin-on driveconnections .and means for .effecting separate .independent drivingadjustments for saidworktable and cutter head when said clutches are.uncouplcd .and comprising hand operated mechanism Afor Yshifting .saidworktalole horizontally todiiierent positions and hand operatedmechanism ior` .shifting said cutter head vertically to differentpositions V1.2. In a milling machine, the combination of a Worlstalole.and a cutter head mounted for rccic-rooation in angularly .relatedplanes and coinmon drive means for effecting reciprocation of saidWcrktable and cutter head in .said Planes, .inl cluding means foreffecting the coupling of said worktable and cutter head in different'relations and Comprising a main drive shaft for effecting operationofthe worktable, a. clutch on said main drive shaft for uncoupling theworlrtable, hand mechanism for shifting the worktable when souncoupled-driveshafting from said main drive shaft to said reciprocatingcutter head, a clutch interposed in said drive shafting for uncouplingsaid cutter head and handmechanis'm for shifting said cutter head whenso uncoupled.

13: Ina milling machine, the combination vof a horizontallyreciprocating worktable and a vertically reciprocating cutter head, .avertically extending shaft, cam means on said shaft lfor effe'ctingreciprocation of the worlstable, ahorizcntally extending power shaft,worm- Agear-im; between said power shaft and cam shaft, a, horizoritallyextending cam shaft, cam means on said shaft for effecting verticalreciprocation of the cutter head and drive shafting from said powershaft to said horizontal cam shaft.

` 14. In a milling machine,v the combination of a horizontallyreciprocating worlrtable and a vertif cally reciprocating cutter head, avertically eX- tending shaft, cam means on 4saidshaft for effectingreciprocation of the worktabla a horizontally extending power shaft,worm gearing lbetween said power shaftand cam shaft, ahorizontallyextending cam shaft, cam means on said shaft for effecting verticalreciprocation of the cutter head and drive shafting from said powershaft to said horizontal cam shaft, including a disconnecting clutch andmeans for effecting ad-v justments of said horizontal cam shaftindependently of said power shaft and vertical cam shaft.-

15. In a milling machine, the combinationof a horizontally reciprocatingworlrtalcle. and a vertically-reciprocating cutter headfa vertically cX-tending shaft, cern means onV said shaft .for eifccting recirrocation.of the Worktablc, a heri-` zontally extending power shaft, wol-1ngearing. be:

carriage mounted for travel in opposite directions,

a cam shaft, two edge cams on said cam shaft, lever Aarms divcrgcntfroni.a cominoncenter and cooperatively related with the respective edge camsat opposite sides of said cams and whereby said lever arms will loevoscillated in opposite di-l rections by Saidedge cams and actuatingconnections from said lever .arms to said carriage for reciprocating thelatter in opposite directions. n i7. 'In a milling machine,l thecombination of a carriage mounted Vfortravel in opposite direc'- tions,a cam shaft, twoedge cams on said Ycam shaft, lever arms divergent froma'cominon center and cooperatively related with the respective edge camsat opposite sides of Vs'aidcams and whereby said lever arms'will bevoscillated in opposite directions by said edge cams, actuatingconnections from said lever armsto said carriage for reciproeating thelatter in opposite directions 'andv yielding means for imparting travelto said carriage in onel direction independently of the travel impartedthereto in the same direction by one of said cams(V H 18. In amilling'machine, the combination of a carriage mounted for travel invopposite directions,

a pivotallyv mountedlever connected for oper-V ating said carriage, Ycamfollowers on said lever atopposite sides of the pivotal axis of saidlever and in different positions longitudinally4 of said pivotal axis, asingle cam shaft and separate edge horizontally reciprocating worktable'and a vertically reciprocating cutter head, a main drive shaft having asplit portion,.a clutch lfor effect'ing the coupling and uncoupling ofthe split portion of said drive shaft, operating connections from theclutch controlled split portion of said drive shaft Ito saidhorizontally reciprocating worktable, a hand shaft foreffectingoperation of the split portion of said drive shaft when said clutch isuncoupled and drive connections from said split portion of the driveshaft to the vertically reciprocating cutter head and includingshafting, a clutch interposed in said shafting and hand means foreffecting rotation of a portion of said shafting when saidlast mentionedclutch is uncoupled.

' FREDERICK KOCH.

